Ladysmith's convenient location (22km/14mi south of Nanaimo and its ferry terminal and airport) makes it an easily accessible destination.
It is featured along several driving routes through the Vancouver Island region. Transportation options include car, rail, bus, ferry, and air travel.
Car Travel
The Trans-Canada Highway is the first and best route to Ladysmith. Car rentals are available in town and at Nanaimo Airport, 20 minutes north. Taxi service is another option in the Ladysmith/Chemainus/Saltair area.
Rail and Bus Service
VIA Rail runs a daily return route from Victoria up-island to Courtenay that stops by request at the Ladysmith Train Station. Get off the train mid-morning, explore town and the beach, and catch the train on the rebound mid-afternoon. Greyhound buses travel through Ladysmith six times daily via Island Coach Lines. There is no public transit service in town.
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Ferry Travel
Ladysmith is within easy reach of Nanaimo's ferry terminals at Duke Point and Departure Bay. The major ferry arrival/departure point at Swartz Bay south of Victoria is 90 minutes south of Ladysmith. Vancouver Island visitors from the US often arrive via the Black Ball Ferry (Port Angeles, WA to Victoria) or Washington State Ferries (Anacortes, WA to Sidney, BC).
Air Travel
Nanaimo Airport is due north of Ladysmith in the Cassiday/Cedar area off the Trans Canada Highway. Air Canada flies daily to and from Vancouver International Airport. Sea-to-Sky Air offer flights to Whistler, along with locations on Vancouver Island and coastal BC.
Harbour Air, the largest all-seaplane company in the world, has frequent daily service from Vancouver to Nanaimo's inner harbours. The company also offers a quick puddle-jump between Nanaimo Harbour and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Maps
Pick up a one-sheet map of the north, central and south ends of Ladysmith, available free of charge at the Visitor Centre. Three excellent regional maps can be found in the back pages of Ladysmith to Cedar, a free annual guide to the region.
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Transportation Service Providers